Ramu Buddha Bihar
Ramu Buddhist Vihara is located in Ramu Upazila, within the Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh. In addition, Ramu is home to numerous ancient historical relics and traditional Buddhist heritage sites, including Buddhist temples, monasteries, and stupas. There are approximately 35 Buddhist temples (known as Kyangs) and stupas in Ramu. Among the notable Buddhist heritage sites in Ramu are Lama Para Kyang, Central Seema Vihara (established in 1707), Maitree Vihara in Srikul (built in 1984), Arpannacharan Temple, Shasan Dhwaja Mahajyotipal Seema (constructed in the Bengali year 1289), Ramu Buddhist Vihara in Srikul, Cherengghata Boro Kyang in Srikul, Roangri Kyang (established in 1885) and its adjacent temples, Sangrimar Kyang and its surrounding temples in South Srikul, Ramkot Banashram Vihara, Purba Rajarkul Buddhist Vihara, Chato Fa Stupa, and the temples near North Mithachhari Pragnyaban Vihara.
Some of the most popular Buddhist monasteries include:
- Rakhine Buddhist Temple: A historical temple from the 18th century.
- Boro Mandir (Big Temple): One of the largest Buddhist temples in Ramu, built in the 17th century.
- Kakiyang Temple: An ancient temple dating back to the 16th century.
- Mithachhari Buddhist Temple: Famous for its 100-foot-long reclining Buddha statue.
- Lalching and Sadaching Buddhist Monasteries: Known for their architectural brilliance.
- Central Seema Vihara: A newly constructed Buddhist temple.
- Rakhine Museum: Displays historical artifacts from Ramu and surrounding areas.
On the northern hilltop of Mithachhari stands a 100-foot-long reclining Buddha statue, which locals believe to be the largest Buddha statue in Asia. Just two kilometers away, the newly reconstructed Central Seema Vihara is located. To the south, the Lalching and Sadaching Buddhist monasteries add to the region’s rich Buddhist heritage.
| Some of the most attractive tourist spots in Ramu | ||
| Rubber Plantation |
The only tourist spot in the scenic land of Ramu is the Ramu Rubber Plantation and its Rest House. The rubber plantation extends over a vast area on both sides of the Arakan Road, surrounding the rest house. In the past, this site was a popular picnic destination for tourists, but in recent times, its appeal has diminished due to a decline in its overall condition. The rubber plantation was established in 1960-61 on government-owned forest land. Currently, the plantation spans 2,682 acres, of which 1,130 acres are actively used for collecting latex. The plantation has approximately 58,000 productive rubber trees, yielding around 250,000 kilograms of rubber annually. Apart from Ramu, Bangladesh has seven rubber plantations in Chattogram, four in Sylhet, and five in Madhupur. Currently, the Ramu Rubber Plantation is managed by an autonomous commercial organization. However, the residents of Ramu believe that if this plantation receives proper government support through the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation (BFIDC), it has the potential to become one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the district. |
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| Rangkut (Ramkot) Banashram Buddhist Monastery |
Various historical texts describe Ramu as “Pyang-wa/Panowa,” meaning “the land of yellow flowers.” In ancient times, Ramu held the status of a provincial capital of Arakan. The rulers of Arakan referred to the ruler of Ramu as “Pyang-wa-ja.” According to popular belief, during the reign of Chenda Thuria (580-528 BCE), the first Rakhine king of the Third Dhanyawadi Era, Gautama Buddha visited Arakan at his invitation, accompanied by his disciple Ananda. It is also said that 500 of Buddha’s disciples were present during this visit. During a religious conference, Buddha reportedly told Ananda: “O Ananda! In the future, my chest bone will be enshrined on a mountain on the eastern coast of the western sea. Then, this place will be called ‘Rang-U’.” The Rakhine word “Rang-U” literally means “chest bone”—where “Rang” means “chest” and “U” means “bone.” Linguistically, “Rang-U” and “Ramu” have phonetic and semantic similarities. Among the 84,000 relic stupas established by Emperor Ashoka (273-232 BCE) of the Maurya Dynasty, the Ramu Stupa is considered one of them. The historical Rangkut Banashram Buddhist Monastery, built in 308 BCE, is located in a scenic environment on the hilltop of Rajarkul Union in Ramu Upazila. Over time, Ramkot lost its existence, but in 1919, Sri Lankan monk Jagat Jyoti Mahasthavir restored and re-established the Ramkot Buddhist Monastery. The monastery also has a forest retreat (Banashram) that houses ancient Buddhist structures and archaeological relics. Every year, a large number of pilgrims, devotees, and tourists visit the site. At the foot of the monastery, there is a Buddhist orphanage named “Jagat Jyoti Shishu Sadan”, which is blessed by Brazil, France, Italy, and several other countries. However, during its construction, the graves of the descendants of the late philanthropist Powayza Sejari (Khizari Dalal), who was buried in the Rakhine cemetery in Ramu, were destroyed. This has remained a matter of regret among the Rakhine community and conscious citizens of Ramu. Many orphaned children reside in the monastery and receive free education. Rabindranath Tagore, the great poet of Bengal, wrote his novel “Rajarshi” while staying in Ramkot. He was the first to refer to Ramu as “Ramya Bhumi” (The Enchanting Land). However, Ramu had already been well known as a center of Buddhist culture under the name “Ramya Bhumi.” |
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| Lamarapara Buddhist Monastery |
The Lamarapara Buddhist Monastery is located in Fatehkharkul Union of Ramu Upazila. The presence of this monastery clearly reflects the historical dominance of the Rakhine Buddhist community in Ramu. Built by Myanmar’s artisans, the intricately designed Lamarapara Buddhist Monastery is one of the most remarkable Buddhist religious structures in the country. Among the Rakhine people, it is also known as Au-Cha-Fa Kyang. Around the year 1800, Theng Ong Kyaw, his son Phat, and their family constructed this monastery. It houses the largest Buddha statue in Bangladesh, an 8-metal (Ashtadhatu) statue seated on a lotus pedestal, measuring 22 feet in height. Made from valuable and rare wood, this monastery has become a significant attraction for both domestic and international tourists. Several other religious structures surround this beautiful monastery. Adjacent to the monastery, there are two massive bells weighing approximately 3,900 kilograms, symbolizing the rich Buddhist heritage. The largest organization of the Rakhine community, the Rakhine Buddhist Welfare Association (RBWA), organized a workshop at this monastery from April 21-23, 1994. Funded by the Rakhine Development Foundation (RDF), the workshop brought together around 200 Rakhine leaders from various Rakhine-inhabited regions of the country. |
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| Shri Shri Ramkut Buddhist Monastery |
Shri Shri Ramkut Tirthadham is situated atop another hill near Ramkot Bonashram. It was established in 1494 AD. Some believe that this temple was built in the 17th century by King Govinda Manikya of Tripura. According to Sanatan religious beliefs, Lord Rama and Sita stayed here for some time during their exile. A Ram-Sita temple stands here, next to which lies the Panchavati forest, consisting of five large banyan trees. Devotees believe that a black stone slab located here was used by Sita for grinding spices, and they continue to worship it. Every year, a grand festival is held for three days in the month of Chaitra during Basanti Puja and for one day in the month of Falgun on the occasion of Shiva Chaturdashi. These religious ceremonies attract a large number of devotees and visitors. The people of Ramu take pride in their land, widely promoting it as a place of communal harmony and religious coexistence. |
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| When to go |
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The Cox’s Bazar beach is always bustling with tourists. A trip to Cox’s Bazar feels incomplete without visiting the nearby attractions. Therefore, after traveling for 2 hours from the city of Cox’s Bazar, tourists often visit Ramu’s Buddhist temples. There is a constant flow of visitors throughout the year. However, if we consider the other tourist areas in Cox’s Bazar, the ideal time to visit is from November to February. |
| Special advice |
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Ramu’s famous foods include sweets, dried fish, and hilsa fish. However, make sure to bargain when buying them. Do not take photos of the locals without permission. Avoid getting into arguments with the locals. To keep the environment clean, do not litter with peels, plastic items, or bottles.
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| Distance from various divisional cities of the country |
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| Dhaka | 388 km (Dhaka – Chittagong Highway Root) |
| Rajshahi |
631 km (Dhaka – Chittagong Highway Root) |
| Rangpur |
681 km (Dhaka – Chittagong Highway Root) |
| Sylhet | 491 km (Dhaka – Chittagong Highway Root) |
| Mymensingh | 499 km (Dhaka – Chittagong Highway Root) |
| Khulna | 480 km (Barisal – Feni Root) |
| Barisal | 376 km (Feni Root) |
| Chittagong | 136 km (Chittagong – Cox’s Bazar Highway Root) |
| To reach Ramu, you must first travel to Cox’s Bazar. | |
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Ways to travel from Dhaka |
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Buses:-
(Before travelling, check carefully where you are going, whether the transports will reach your destination. Because the information changes with the change of time) |
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Train |
Trains from Dhaka- Trains from Dhaka Kamalapur or Airport Railway Station to Cox’s Bazar Station-
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Air Plane |
Air Planes:- Flights from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Cox’s Bazar Airport-
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Ways to travel from Rajshahi |
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Bus |
Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
(Before travelling, check carefully where you are going, whether the transports will reach your destination. Because the information changes with the change of time) |
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Train |
(Since there is no direct train service from Rajshahi to Cox’s Bazar, you will need to go to Dhaka first and then take a train to Cox’s Bazar.) Trains to Dhaka:-
(As you have to catch the Dhaka mail train. So it is better to go to Dhaka by fast express from Natore first) |
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Air Plane |
Air Planes: Flights from Rajshahi Airport to Cox’s Bazar Airport-
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Ways to travel from Rangpur |
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Bus |
Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
(Before travelling, check carefully where you are going, whether the transports will reach your destination. Because the information changes with the change of time) |
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Train |
(Since there is no direct train service from Rangpur to Cox’s Bazar, you will need to go to Dhaka first and then take a train to Cox’s Bazar.) Trains to Dhaka:-
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Air Plane |
(To fly directly to Cox’s Bazar, you will need to travel to Saidpur Airport, which is 40 km away from Rangpur city.) Airplanes: Flights from Saidpur Airport to Cox’s Bazar Airport-
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Ways to travel from Sylhet |
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Bus |
Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
(Before travelling, check carefully where you are going, whether the transports will reach your destination. Because the information changes with the change of time) |
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Train |
(Since there is no direct train service from Sylhet to Cox’s Bazar, you will need to go to Dhaka or Chattogram first.) Train to Dhaka:-
(Train schedules and operating days are subject to change, so it’s advisable to check before traveling.) Train to Chittagong:-
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Air Plane |
Air Planes: Flight from Sylhet Airport to Cox’s Bazar Airport-
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Ways to travel from Mymensingh |
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Bus |
Buses:-
(Before travelling, check carefully where you are going, whether the transports will reach your destination. Because the information changes with the change of time) |
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Train |
(Since there is no direct train service from Mymensingh to Cox’s Bazar, you will need to go to Dhaka or Chattogram first.) Train to Dhaka:-
(Train schedules and operating days are subject to change, so it’s advisable to check before traveling.) Train from Chittagong:-
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Air Plane |
(Since there is no direct flight service from Mymensingh, you will need to travel to Dhaka first and then take a flight from there.) Air Planes:- Flights from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Cox’s Bazar Airport-
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Ways to travel from Khulna |
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Bus |
Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
(Before travelling, check carefully where you are going, whether the transports will reach your destination. Because the information changes with the change of time) |
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Train |
(Since there is no direct train service from Khulna, you will need to travel to Dhaka first and then take a train from there.) Train to Dhaka:-
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Air Plane |
(To fly directly to Cox’s Bazar, you will need to first travel to Jessore Airport from Khulna city.) Air Planes:-
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Ways to travel from Barisal |
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Bus |
Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
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Air Plane |
Air Planes:-
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Ways to travel from Chittagong |
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Bus |
(Since Cox’s Bazar is part of the Chattogram division, many local buses from the city to Cox’s Bazar, as well as buses from all over Bangladesh, pass through Chattogram, making it easy to find numerous coach buses.) Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
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Train |
(All trains from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar go through Chattogram.) Trains:-
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Air Plane |
Air Planes:-
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Ramu is 35 kilometers from Cox’s Bazar, and it takes about an hour to get there. You can hire an auto-rickshaw or CNG for the trip. The CNG fare for each person is around 400-500 Taka for a round trip and sightseeing, while the auto-rickshaw fare is 40 Taka for just the round trip. [As per the records of 2025] |
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Accommodation and food arrangements |
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(There are all kinds of accommodation and food arrangements available in Cox’s Bazar city.) |
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Residential Hotels |
High-quality hotels:-
Mid-range hotels:-
Budget Hotels:-
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Restaurants |
Notable restaurants:-
Additionally, there are many other new and old restaurants. |
| Note: With the passage of time, many new hotels and restaurants for accommodation and dining are being established. | |
Advantages of traveling are-
- Advanced communication system.
- Facilitate spending quality time with family/couple or friends.
- Beautiful and pleasant environment.
- If Necessary, Take Water Bottle, Umbrella Or Raincoat And Water Proof Bag.
- Get Full Charge On Mobile, Torch, Power Bank.
- With The Help Of A Local Guide You Can Tour The Whole Region Beautifully.
- Don’t Forget To Take Necessary Materials For Trekking.
- Travel In Groups Of At Least 6 People.
Note- Beware of all kinds of brokers/scammers. Be very careful on the way so as not to get into any kind of danger. In case of any problem, take the help of local administration or call the National Emergency Service of Bangladesh – 999.
→ Email- [email protected]
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Other Tourist Attractions
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2. Saint Martin
3. Himchari
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